Marathons overseas? - Spring Marathon

Mark Whitehead 2

11/05/2011 at 15:52

Quite simply, I want to run a second marathon, London this year having been my first, but want to do one outside the UK, the question is ... where?

Top tips welcome - thanks!

Mr Phil [now a fully paid up member of the sub 20 club!]

11/05/2011 at 19:39

Amsterdam is very good - olympic stadium finish, not too busy , and flat, with great post race leisure!

Ad2502

11/05/2011 at 20:07

I've entered Amsterdam as my next mara after London. Looks like a great event and my wife has entered the half for her first ever event.

statt0

11/05/2011 at 22:48

Arghhh, shouldn't have looked at this thread. I was planning on next years VLM being my first marathon (with my first half marathon at Stratford in November), but the Amsterdam race looks ace, and a quick google reveals I could get flights, accommodation for a five day break and race entry for less than £300.

Must. Resist. Doing. Something. Rash.

Brolish

12/05/2011 at 20:25

My first one was Madrid this year and I've already booked Amsterdam for October

. I would definitely recommend Madrid. It's considered to be hot and hilly but I absolutely loved it. Yes, it was hotter than London but to be honest it only got hot close to the end and the hills were fine... after everthing I'd heard i expected mountains. Very well organised, small enough (about 8000 finishers) to not worry about overtaking and easy to find your support along the way. They do have a 6 hour cut off period though.

Clearly

12/05/2011 at 21:25

I did Dublin for my first. Great conditions and fairly flat. Easy to enter. What might be a plus or minus for you is that it's really easy to get to.

Alli Bongo

18/05/2011 at 11:51

I chose Amsterdam for my first (I couldn't think of a flatter one ) and it was great with the Stadium start and finish.

I then followed it up with the Budapest Marathon last September - another great flat course, followed by a relaxing dip in the the Thermal Spas afterwards for all the competitors, which really helped with the aches.

For both races, we managed to get cheaphotels and flights over there early Satuday and back Sunday night, so were able to make a nice weekend of it.

pja

28/05/2011 at 08:13

Following London in 2007 i've tried to do a different one each year. Doing it on a budget is essential, so Selection is mainly down to availability of cheap flights and hotels.
Edinburgh: Good, but organisation from finish line was a joke, so wouldn't do again, or recommend. This may have changed since 2008.
Palma, Majorca: Well organised race, nice route and good weather.
Budapest: Excellent course and organisation, very cheap flights and accomodation. Would recommend for race abroad
Barcelona: Excellent! City, atmosphere and route unbelievable. This is head and shoulders my favourite race. Cant recommend it highly enough.

Palma and Budapest are September time, whilst Barcelona March.

Iron Pugsley pirate

pirate

29/05/2011 at 11:48

I did Rome 2 years ago. Course is great, through all the main tourist sites. It can be warm in March (26c when I did it) after a cold uk winter but a lovely race without too many hills.

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